Adams] SHONTO I ROLE OF NAVAHO TRADER 219 



welfare cases are on hand on that day. In the course of passing the 

 word along to the community, the trader is at the same time in a 

 position to recommend that every other individual who has even a 

 remote chance of securing welfare benefits also be on hand as a new 

 applicant. 



Use of trading posts as points of contact with welfare cases has 

 the further advantage in most instances of allowing traders to act 

 as interpreters, and to a certain extent as "prompters," when appli- 

 cants and recipients are interviewed. It is often true that virtually 

 all of the information upon which case reports are based is supplied 

 either by or through the traders. This relationship prevails through- 

 out the western part of the Navaho Reservation. 



There have been numerous other instances in wliich Shonto's trader 

 iias been designated or has chosen to play the part of benefit 

 agent for his clientele. In 1956 the Navaho Tribal Council voted the 

 sum of $1,000 to each council constituency on the reservation, to be 

 distributed equally among households as "emergency drouth relief." 

 Instead of making a cash payment the Tribe chose to have the stipu- 

 lated sums issued by the local traders in the form of mercliandise. 

 For this purpose what were essentially "due bills" were issued (see 

 "Direct Exchange," 199-201), redeemable only in merchandise at 

 the store. Stores were in turn reimbursed by the Navaho Tribe upon 

 submission of the receipted bills. 



Shonto Trading Post inaugurated another important benefit activity 

 in 1955 in connection with the "incentive payment" allowed to wool 

 growers by the Commodity Credit Corporation (see "Livestock In- 

 come," pp. 120-123) . In order to receive this bonus (amounting to 17 

 cents for every pound sold) it was necessary for wool growers to submit 

 complicated application forms listing, among other things, amounts 

 sold and dates of sale. On his own initiative Shonto's trader care- 

 fully recorded this information during wool sales in 1955, and, 

 at the conclusion of sales, filled out application forms and had them 

 signed by each of his wool producing clients. These were then kept at 

 the store ready for submission as soon as the stipulated period expired 

 in 1956. 



A frequent benefit activity of Shonto Trading Post, on request, has 

 been writing for back pay owed to Shonto men by various employers. 

 Far and away the most conmion client for this service is the local 

 tribal councilman. Immediately upon conclusion of every public meet- 

 ing his first act is to demand that the trader write for him to Window 

 Eock, informing the tribal chairman that he has held a meeting and 

 is therefore entitled to his $20 stipend. Letters have also been written 

 to railroads and to a movie company, requesting back pay. At various 

 times Shonto's trader has also written to the Navaho Tribal Council 

 for emergency relief (no reply), to the Navy Department in regard 



